Videos — including one by Katy Perry — face backlash over anti-Muslim elements

Thursday

Feb 27, 2014 at 8:28 PM

Two videos, including one by pop star Katy Perry, are facing backlash after their alleged anti-Muslim connotations and elements.

Herb Scribner

A music video of Katy Perry and a separate video called "Innocence of Muslims" both sparked controversy this past week - mostly because of their alleged anti-Muslim connotations.
Google recently removed the "Innocence of Muslims" video, which was said to be anti-Muslim, the Los Angeles Times reported. The online search company said it would appeal the ruling made by the federal judge, but it would still take down the video in the meantime, according to the L.A. Times.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals made the 2-1 decision after actress Cindy Lee Garcia filed a lawsuit saying that she had never agreed to be in what became this film. Scenes from a movie that "never materialized" were included in the video, and Garcia was "dubbed over to make an anti-Muslim remark, and she has had to hide because of continuing threats on her life," the Times article said.
"Here, the problem isn't that 'Innocence of Muslims' is not an Arabian adventure movie: It's that the film isn't intended to entertain at all," wrote Judge Alex Kozinski for the majority. "The film differs so radically from anything Garcia could have imagined when she was cast that it can't possibly be authorized by any implied license she granted."
That wasn't the only video on YouTube that's been snarled in anti-Muslim controversy. Katy Perry's "Dark Horse" video has caused an uproar from Muslims and has even inspired the hit artist to edit the video, according to FOX News.
Though most of the video remains the same, an Islamic symbol was cut from the production, as an online petition on change.org claimed that the burning of the symbol was offensive, FOX News reported.
"At 01:15 into the video Dark Horse; a man is shown being burned, whilst wearing a pendant (also burned) forming the word 'Allah', which is the arabic word for God," the petition reads. "Such goes to show, that blasphemy is clearly conveyed in the video, since Katy Perry (who appears to be representing an opposition of God) engulfs the believer and the word God in flames."
The petition, filed by Shazad Iqbal, a Muslim, called for YouTube to remove the video completely. But Perry's video has been edited and republished without the symbol, FOX News said. Experts have weighed in on the subject, with some calling the move a "double standard" since other pop stars have used Christian symbols in their videos in the past, FOX News reported.
"The image of the pendant goes by so fast it's almost impossible to even notice. YouTube isn't perfect, but this is ridiculous," said Dan Gainor, vice president of business and culture at the conservative nonprofit media watchdog group Media Research Center, according to FOX News. "Just as Muslims were outraged by portrayals in 'South Park,' they are outraged by this. Meanwhile, Christians are criticized, abused, parodied, persecuted and worse on a daily basis in the news and entertainment media."
Perry has said in the past she doesn't have a specific religious connection, but she does believe in God, according to The Independent.%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A//beacon.deseretconnect.com/beacon.gif%3Fcid%3D149264%26pid%3D46%22%20/%3E